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Summer is back, Summer Ale is everywhere, and once again we find ourselves in prime outdoor drinking weather. We have been waiting for this weather for many blanket-wrapped months, and we’re ready to make the most of it, stopping at:
The Beach
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Yes, that’s Brooklyn Brewmaster Garrett Oliver in a Summer Ale towel/cape. Now, listen: if you spend the entire summer in the same neighborhood you hunkered down in all winter, you’re going to drive yourself irretrievably insane. Brooklyn and the rest of New York City feature some incredible beaches like Coney Island, the Rockaways, and City Island, and countless more are a train or bus ride away. Kick your shoes off, get some sand between your toes (and in your pockets, and in your bag, and…), and relax for a little while. Cans are the smart move here. Many beaches ban glass on the perfectly logical grounds that if you break a bottle over sand, there’s no way you’re finding every shard before some poor soul steps on it. Pack some cans, be respectful around families– looking at you, guys who played intramural volleyball in college and “still have it”– and enjoy.
The Rooftop
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Rooftops bring the breeziness of the beach, the convenience of the city, and the thrill of a birds-eye view in one handy package. Feeling classy? Get gussied up and hold forth at a beautiful rooftop bar, like The Ides at The Wythe Hotel or Fornino at Pier 6. In a more casual mood, or a bit on the broke side? Head up to your roof, or hit up that one friend, or maybe that other guy you used to work with, or whomever has the access to get you skyward. There’s not as much to worry about with broken glass like at the beach, so bring bottles and cans alike and settle in. You can’t beat those views for a sunset, and perhaps the following sunrise.
The Stoop
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We have to admit this one kind of exists in a legal gray area, as a stoop can legally be considered public in New York City. On the other hand, hanging out on stoops in the summer has been a New York City tradition since the first Dutch settlers went outside to catch some fresh air. Or somewhere around there. In any case, stoop-level hanging is a perfect opportunity to work in some quality people-watching time as you and your friends slowly conduct the laziest conversation ever devised. Make sure your sprawl doesn’t block the door and bother your neighbors though. Everyone’s got their own ways of enjoying summer, and if those folks need to scuttle inside at top speed to stand naked in front of their air conditioner, they should have a clear path and dark curtains.
The “Your Friend Has A What?” Baller Status Spot
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Maybe your parents live a couple hours away and have a sweet porch. Maybe your friend’s aunt has a lake house somewhere you can pack into. You might know someone who inherited a timeshare, or has “connections” in the Hamptons, or owns a horror-movie-style cabin in the woods. If you’re new to NYC, you may have heard of the Memory Motel in Montauk or rumors of an all-grown-up summer camp to the north. The point is, take those trips now, while the weather is good and the roads are clean. Especially if you live in the city, taking a weekend to get out into the natural world will give you a break from the sweat-soaked public transit that haunts your commutes and the overheated reality of your “cozy” walk-up apartment. Figure out where you’re staying, how you’re getting there, and how much beer you need to bring. Then pack some extra beers and hit the road.
Shake Shack Madison Square Park
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Parks in general already have a lot going for them, and New York City is lucky enough to have tons of them tucked away all over the place. Madison Square Park gets a boost from its most famous resident, the flagship Shake Shack stand. The stand just re-opened after a long winter of renovations, and we can personally assure you that the updated Shack is ready, willing and able to take on the hungry and thirsty crowds in the park. We even brewed a brand new beer for the location called Shack Phoenix, available as long as supplies last alongside the original Shackmeister Ale. Just be careful about “stopping by” during your lunch break. Everyone knows there’s a high chance you won’t make it back to the office that day.
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